KUCH3186@aol.com's review:
From: KUCH3186@aol.com

KISS - Carnival of Souls

For what its worth!! -- [AND AMAZINGLY, probably the umpteenth critique of a product that's not EVEN officially released:

Hopefully Gene & Paul read this!

"In my head..........In my head." Heavier than Creatures of the Night! "In my head.............In my head." The most drastic musical directional change for KISS since Music from the Elder! "In my head...... .......In my head." Is there a top-10 hit in here--NO. Is there a KILLER KISS CLASSIC--YES!!! In my head...................In my head." Are there catchy tunes--definitely.

For those of you expecting Grunge (based previous reviews)--forget it. I'm no grunge expert, but this is KISS to me--but heavier and darker--with a bit of a dark humorous side [In my head.......In my head."]. If you want comparisons, try early Black Sabbath, or even Blue Oyster Cult.

Song list:

  • Seduction of the Innocent
  • It Never Ends
  • In my Head
  • You Confess
  • In the Mirror
  • Hate
  • Rain Down On Me
  • Master & Slave
  • Childhood's End
  • I Will Be There
  • The Jungle

    Overall product--I'd give it a B. There are some great tunes. Best of the lot is Master & Slave (some have it titled Tell Me). Great beat, coupled with a classic KISS riff & chorus. Has the potential to be a classic [aka Lick it Up and Detroit Rock City]. Other tunes that grabs you the first listen thru: In my Head (great bass/drum intro & melody); Seduction of the Innocent [opening tune that tells you this is going to be a different KISS musical direction]; In the Mirror; Rain Down On Me; and Childhood's End (although a bit Beatles-ish tune).

    There are a few tunes I could due without: It Never Ends and I Will be There. Terrible songs. Gene/Paul, if you read this--trash those 2. Pull something from the vaults, say Down On Your Knees [from the Japanese released CD] or some of the tunes that did not make this Carnival of Souls product [Vengeance is Mine, Carnival of Souls, etc). And then by all means, RELEASE THIS ALBUM!!!!!!.

    Now, this will probably perturb some folks, but as a KISS fan from way back (197?), I have to say what's on my mind [This is for Gene & Paul]:

    1. Knock of the Nostalgic Act. Call it what you want; I call it a Nostalgic Act. Playing nothing but pre-1979 tunes? Ace and Peter back {Where were they in the 1980's and 1990's} and Bruce and Eric sitting out.

    2. I want to see KISS; everything I've come to expect from KISS--not just the '70's. The make-up and pyro-stage spectacle is great. But you could do more!!! Bring Bruce and Eric into the Make-up fold (create characters) and, to appease everyone, keep Ace and Peter too if you must. A KISS-6 man band!! Imagine the potential--Bruce could be a Mime and Eric a Jaguar. ALL KISS classics could then be played: God Gave Rock and Roll to You; Heavens on Fire; Take it Off; Unholy; All Hells Breaking Loose; I Love it Loud; etc.

    3. RELEASE CARNIVAL OF SOULS! Dump the 2 aforementioned tracks, add 'Down on Your Knees' + 2 more tracks from 'The Carnival of Souls vaults', and let the KISS tradition continue. You've got a KILLER KISS CLASSIC with Master & Slave. Go forward--not backwards.

    IN MY HEAD.........IN MY HEAD

    See ya; welcome comments.